In fact, the fighting in Korea ended with a ceasefire on July 27, 1953; the final, tear-jerking episode of M*A*S*H didn’t air until some 30 years later, on February 28, 1983. But you should ignore both of those dates, because technically the two countries — North and South Korea — are still at war. An armistice was agreed to, but no formal peace treaty was ever signed. Instead, a 2.5-mile-wide Demilitarized Zone, known as the DMZ, was established and remains in place today; and the agreement to call a truce has held for 73 years . . . though sometimes tenuously.

Since that time, the United States has continued to support South Korea against possible aggression from its hard-line authoritarian neighbor to the north, maintaining a substantial military presence there, and conducting regular joint military exercises.

Until now, that is, when Donald Trump has begun calling into question U.S. commitment to its long-time ally. In May, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hinted at a lessening of support during a meeting at the Pentagon, when he praised South Korea for its “commitment to increase defense spending [and its] leadership in assuming primary responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula. It demonstrates alliance burden-sharing that all of America’s partners would do well to follow.” [Konstantin Toropin and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, August 16, 2026.] [Bold emphasis is mine.]

In other words, you had all better be able to take care of yourselves, because you can no longer depend on help from America.

This is in complete alignment with Trump’s record of turning against our proven allies throughout the world, and his obsession with “strong men” like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and now even North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. So it’s hardly surprising that yesterday he ordered the Pentagon to scale back this week’s scheduled joint military exercises, citing South Korea’s refusal to support his war against Iran, and mentioning his “good relationship” with Kim Jong Un.

What Trump posted on social media is so unimaginable, I had to fact-check it before quoting it here:

“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country [North Korea] that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’ Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Right . . . we mustn’t be hostile to one of the world’s most tyrannical leaders. Let’s put the screws to our friends instead.

Is this the prelude to yet another war on the Korean Peninsula? Is it the opportunity Kim Jong Un has been waiting for so he can stop merely rattling his sabers and go directly to a full-blown invasion? And in such an event, what would China and Russia do?

Obviously, it’s too soon to tell how this will play out. But what is clear is that, once again, a rash decision affecting the security of multiple nations has been made on the basis of nothing more than a childish temper tantrum. South Korea has legitimately refused to embroil itself in Trump’s debacle in Iran; and we all know what happens when someone dares to say “no” to a bully.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/17/26